Dickson advises NDC backers to steer clear of petty infighting in the run-up to the 2027 polls

Sergeant Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has made a plea to party members and supporters to put aside internal conflicts and focus on bolstering the party's strength ahead of the 2027 general election.

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This appeal was made in a statement released on Thursday, following an interview on ARISE TV, where Dickson addressed concerns surrounding alleged irregularities in the party's recently concluded primaries.

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Dickson, the former governor of Bayelsa State, acknowledged that some aspirants were unhappy with certain aspects of the exercise, but he urged them to remain committed to the party as it navigates the challenges of rapid growth and a tight electoral schedule.

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In his statement, Dickson recalled his interview with ARISE TV, saying "Last night, I had an interview with Arise TV, where I sympathised with our aspirants over some noticeable irregularities in our just-concluded primaries," and also noted that "I urged all of them to bear with the party in view of the circumstances we are managing, which have overwhelmed even bigger parties."

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The NDC, which is barely four months old, has had to undertake a multitude of tasks, including membership registration, congresses, national conventions, primaries, and appeal processes, all within a limited timeframe, according to Dickson.

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He attributed some of the challenges experienced during the primaries to the provisions of the Electoral Act, which mandates direct primaries, stating "I identified the root cause of these challenges, my views on the Electoral Act have been clear: the APC-led majority were wrong in foisting compulsory direct primaries on political parties and the country."

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Dickson argued that complaints about irregularities were not unique to the NDC, as similar concerns had emerged in other political parties.

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The senator also cautioned members against giving credence to unofficial results circulating online, emphasizing that the party had not announced any winners from its primaries, saying "I also noted that no party has announced any set of winners from its primaries, and neither has the NDC."

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Dickson revealed that the party's National Executive Committee had already given its approval for the establishment of a reconciliation committee to address grievances arising from the primary elections.

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He emphasized that the party's primaries would be conducted using technology in the future, saying "As I have stated before, this is our first set of primaries, and it will also be the last to be conducted manually."

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Dickson stressed the importance of unity within the party, urging supporters to rally behind all NDC candidates, advising "I advise all members and supporters to avoid meaningless quarrels and infighting, everyone should support our candidates, from the Presidency down to the least elective office."

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The NDC leader reaffirmed his support for the party's presidential ticket, comprising Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, describing them as partners in a collective political project that requires cooperation and discipline to succeed in 2027.